Tube collapsing device having a roller



Dec. 7, 1965 J. G. LOTT 3,221,941

TUBE COLLAPSING DEVICE HAVING A ROLLER Filed Dec. 17, 1963 INVENTOR.

BY 7 Zr/72a; [off United States Patent 3,221,941 TUBE COLLAPSING DEVICE HAVING A RGLLER James G. Lott, 3378 Coolidge, Royal Galr, Mich. Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,218 25 Claims. (Cl. 222l02) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to an apparatus for dispensing paste types of material from collapsible tubes. A dispensing device of this general type may be adapted for use in dispensing a variety of materials such as tooth paste, shaving cream and the like.

Many paste-type materials are packaged in collapsible tubes from which the material is dispensed by squeezing or otherwise applying pressure to the tube to force the paste material out of a nozzle or spout formed at one end thereof. Typical of such materials and containers is the familiar tooth paste and tooth paste container. Formerly, when such tubes and materials are used, the tube is squeezed gently by hand to force the material out of the tube through the nozzle provided. However, it is becoming more and more popular to provide an automatic dispensing device which is adapted to be mounted on a suitable support and which receives the end of the tube in some manner so that by a mechanical actuation the material may be dispensed from the tube.

There have been many devices available in the past for automatically dispensing such material from tubes of this general nature. However, most of these devices have numerous problems connected therewith which make them inconvenient for normal use. In many such devices no support is provided for the tube and, as such, the tube is free to move about adjacent the device making it difiicult to receive the dispensed material. In many devices either no provision is made for taking care of the empty tail of the tube, or extremely complicated and cumbersome provisions are made to wind up the empty tail in some manner. This leads either to an unsightly appearance or to a difficult and time-consuming operation to remove the tube from the device when the tube is empty. Furthermore, no provisions are made for a suitable cap or cover for the tube, requiring the user to remove the cap each time it is desired to dispense the material and then replace the cap to prevent further flow from the tube. This is often a difiicult and irksome operation requiring a free hand which the user often does not have.

The device in which this invention is embodied comprises, generally, a dispensing device of extremely simple and uncomplicated construction and yet which solves most of the problems attendant to present types of apparatus. The dispensing device includes a U-shaped body portion, adapted to be secured to a support and in which are rotatably mounted a pair of rollers in closely spaced parallel relation. One of the rollers is provided with a knob or other means to rotate that roller and thus drive the tube between the two rollers. By compressing the tube between the rollers, the required dispensing pressure is provided and the material is dispensed from the opposite end of the tube. Extending from one wall of the body member is a tube support arm which properly positions and maintains the tube relative to the rollers for optimum operation thereof and best positioning relative to the tooth brush or other receiver onto which the material is dispensed. A cover member is provided for the device, is pivotally mounted in the body member, and has a downwardly and inwardly depending wall which engages the tail end of the tube at a desirable point in order to bend the tube into the volume enclosed by the cover when the cover is opened or closed. Disposed on the end of the tube is a cap which has a resilient sleeve 322L941 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 ice extending therefrom and terminating in a pair of normally closed, separable lips. When the dispensing pressure is applied, the material within the tube causes the lips to separate and the material is dispensed. When the dispensing pressure is released, the resiliency of the sleeve causes the lips to close, thus cutting off the fiow of material and protecting the material within the tube from contamination.

A device constructed in this manner is extremely simple to operate and extremely uncomplicated in construction. Only one hand is required to operate the device since only a single roller need be rotated in order to cause the material to be dispensed. The cap device eliminates the need to take off and put on a closure member every time the dispensing device is used, thus eliminating the need for an extra hand. The cover member, by engaging the tail end of the tube each time the cover member is raised and lowered, keeps the tail end of the tube out of sight and thus avoids the unpleasant appearance usu ally found in present types of dispensers.

These and other advantages will become more apparent from the following description and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away and in section of the dispensing device in a tube dispensing position, illustrating the location of the various parts.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view with parts broken away and in section of the dispensing device of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a top sectional view of the dispensing device illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, taken substantially along the line 303 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the end of the tube shown in FIGURE 1, showing the tube cap and resilient sleeve extending therefrom, and taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGURES 1 through 3 best show the dispensing device. A body portion, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, is of substantially U-shaped construction and includes an end wall 12 having apertures 14 formed therein. Apertures 14 are formed to receive suitable screws 16 by means of which the body portion 10 may be secured to a support 18, such as a wall. Extending outwardly from the end wall 12 are a pair of side walls 20 which, when the device is fully assembled, are disposed in parallel spaced relation. For purposes to become hereinafter more apparent, it may be noted that side walls 20 in the unassembled position may flare slightly outwardly from the end wall 12, that is, the extreme outward ends of the side walls 20 are slightly farther apart than the ends adjacent the wall 12 Extending between the side walls 20, and suitably journalled in apertures 22 formed therein, is a cylindrical roller, illustrated generally by the numeral 24. Roller 24 is provided with end stub shafts 26 which are received in the openings 22 and are freely rotatable therein.

Also disposed in the side walls 20 and in suitable apertures 36 formed therein is a driving roller, illustrated generally by the numeral 28. Driving roller 28 includes a central portion 30 which may be provided with a series of axial serrations 32, for purposes to become hereinafter more apparent. One end of driving roller 28 is provided with an enlarged head 34 which is larger in diameter than the aperture 36 formed in the side wall 20 and through which the driving roller 28 is received. Enlarged head 34 thus prevents the driving roller 28 from passing completely through the side wall 20. A knob 38 is mounted at the opposite end of the main portion 30,

and is provided with a suitably knurled surface 40. Knob 38 may be press fit or otherwise secured on the end of driving roller 28 and exteriorly of the side wall 20.

As aforementioned, the side walls 20, when in the unassembled position, may flare slightly outwardly. This is to permit simple assembly of the driven roller 24 in the apertures 22. When the driven roller 24 is assembled, both driving and driven rollers 28 and 24, respectively, are placed in position in the side walls 20. The side walls are squeezed together slightly in order to adequately receive the stub shafts 26 of driven roller 24, and then the knob 38 is press fit or otherwise secured on the end of the driving roller 28. By so doing, the side walls 20 will be securely retained in substantially parallel spaced relation and securely maintaining the driven roller 24 by the action of the press fit knob 38 and the enlarged head 34 on the driving roller 28.

With the driving roller and the driven roller 24 properly positioned, it is apparent that a collapsible tube, illustrated generally by the numeral 42, may be fed between the rollers 28 and 24. Upon rotation of the knob 38, the driving roller 28 will rotate and the serrations 32 will grip the tube to force the tube between the rollers. This causes the material within the tube to dispense from the opposite end.

A second function of the press fit knob 38 may now be noted. Since the knob 38 engages one of the side walls 20, in order to squeeze the side walls together, there will be a frictional engagement between the inner surface of the knob and the side wall with which it engages. Such frictional engagement prevents the driving roller 28 from rotating by the action of the tube 42 attempting to return to its original position, and will also prevent the tube from falling between the two rollers. Thus, the knob 38 acts as a brake on the driving roller 28.

Also pivotally mounted in the side walls 20, and in suitable apertures 44 formed therein, is a cover member, illustrated generally by the numeral 46. Cover member 46 is provided with two pivot pins 48 extending outwardly from side flanges 49 which are received and journalled in the apertures 44 in the side walls 20. The mounting may be similar to that of the driven roller 24, that is, the cover member 46 is held in place between the side walls 20 by means of the knob 38 and enlarged head 34 on the driving roller 28. The cover 46 extends partially across the top of the device, down the front of the device, and along both sides thereof to hide the tube and inner workings of the dispenser. Depending angularly inwardly from the top wall 50 of the cover 46 and adjacent the pivot pins 48 is a wall 52, terminating in parallel spaced relation to the driving roller 28. As the cover member 46 is raised about its pivots 48 to its extreme position, such that wall 50 passes through an angle of approximately 180 degrees, the tube becomes available for the dispensing operation. As the tube is rolled through the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24, a tail 54 forms on the end of the tube above the rollers, where the two sides of the tube are collapsed together. After the dispensing operation is complete, the cover 46 is returned to its covering position, at which time the downwardly and inwardly depending wall 52 engages the tail 54 and causes it to bend about the driving roller 28 to a position within the volume enclosed by the cover 46. Thus, the tail is kept out of sight and avoids the sloppy appearance that would otherwise be present. It may be noted that each time the cover 46 is raised and then allowed to fall back into position the wall 52 will engage whatever tail has appeared beyond the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24.

In order to properly support and direct the tube 42 between the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24, a support arm, illustrated generally by the numeral 56, extends between the end wall 12 of the body member and engages the tube 42. Arm 56 is provided with an apertured flange 58 which receives the same fastening members 14 which secure the apparatus to the support 18. The opposite end of arm 56 is downwardly turned as at 60 to properly engage and support the collapsible tube 42. Arm 56 co-operates with the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24 to maintain the position of the tube 42 with respect to the rollers for optimum operation thereof. Additionally, since the apertured end 58 of the arm 56 has screw receiving holes formed therein in exactly the same position as in the end wall 12, the arm 56 may be used as a template to mark the support 18 for the mounting of the body 10 and the remainder of the apparatus on the support.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 4, the tube cap and sleeve assembly is best illustrated. The assembly includes a generally frusto conical cap 62 having a stepped bore 64-66 formed therein. Bores 64 and 66 are separated by a shoulder 68 suitably located within the length of the cap 62. Bore portion 64, the larger portion thereof, is threaded or otherwise formed to be secured on the end 70 of the tube 42. Since such ends 70 are generally threaded, it is desirable to provide a mating thread on the bore 64.: In this manner the cap 62 and sleeve assembly is readily adaptable to presently existing tubes and the like.

Extending outwardly from the cap 62 is a resilient sleeve, illustrated generally by the numeral 72. The inner end of sleeve 72 is provided with an outwardly directed annular flange 74 which is received in the larger portion 64 of the bore in the cap 62. The sleeve 72 extends out the opposite end of the cap 62 and terminates in a pair of normally closed and separable lips 76. When the assembly is mounted on the end 70 of the tube 42,,

the end of the threaded portion 70 bears against the flange 74 on the sleeve member 72 to retain the sleeve in place within the cap 62.

Upon operation of the dispensing apparatus, the paste material passes through the end 70 of the tube 42 and through the resilient sleeve 72. The pressure caused on the material by the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24 forces the lips 76 open and the material is dispensed. Upon releasing the pressure at the driving and driven rollers 28 and 24, the resilient material of the sleeve 72 causes the lips 76 to return to their original position, thus cutting oif the flow of material from the tube 42. In so doing, the material remaining in the sleeve and the tube is closed to the atmosphere to prevent spoiling or contamination thereof. Upon the next dispensing operation, or the next rotation of knob 38 to further collapse the tube 42, the material within the sleeve 72 and within the tube 42 will be dispensed through the lips in the foregoing manner. Should it be discovered that the material within the tube is too thick or too dense to permit the lips 76 to collapse or return to their closed position of their own accord, it is only necessary to squeeze the resilient sleeve 72 and eject the amount of material left therein after the dispensing pressure is released in order to remove the material therefrom and permit the lips to close in sealing engagement.

Thus, a paste dispensing device is provided which is extremely simple in construction and operation and positively dispenses an amount of material from a collapsible tube. Provision is made for hiding the empty tail of the tube to prevent an unsightly appearance and the tube is properly supported within the device for optimum dispensing operation.

Although numerous modifications and changes will be come apparent to those having skill in the art after having had reference to the foregoing description and drawing, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by the foregoing but by the following claims in which:

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing material from a collapsible tube and comprising:

a pair of spaced side walls;

a roller extending through said side walls;

means received in said side walls and coacting with said roller to receive and collapse therebetween the end of a tube;

and means on said roller for rotating said roller and moving said tube between said roller and said means coacting therewith to dispense said material from the other end of said tube, said means engaging said walls and being operable to maintain said walls in such relation as to retain said means coacting with said roller therebetween.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means coacting with said roller includes a second roller journalled in said side walls.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on said roller includes a knob press fit on one end of said roller extending through one of said side walls, said knob engaging said one of said side walls.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on said roller acts as a brake to prevent reverse rotation of said roller and disengagement of said tube from said roller and said means coacting therewith.

5. A device for dispensing material from a collapsible tube and comprising:

a body having spaced and parallel side walls;

a driven roller journalled in said side walls and extending therebetween;

a driving roller extending through said side Walls and disposed in parallel and closely spaced relation to saiddriven roller, said driving roller and said driven roller being adapted to receive one end of a tube therebetween;

and means for rotating said driving roller for moving said tube between said driving roller and said driven roller and collapsing said tube and dispensing said material from the other end thereof, said means engaging said side walls and being operable to maintain said side walls in parallel spaced relation and retain said driving roller and said driven roller therein.

6. The device set forth in claim 5 and further including a cover pivotally mounted in said side walls and covering said driving roller and said driven roller and adapted to enclose the tube received therebetween, said cover having means formed thereon adapted to engage said one end of said tube upon pivotal movement of said cover to bend said one end of said tube into the volume enclosed by said cover.

7. The device set forth in claim 6 wherein said means formed on said cover includes a wall extending inwardly of said cover and having an edge in parallel spaced relation to said driving roller, said Wall being movable with said cover about the pivot point thereof and adapted to engage said end of said tube.

8. The device set forth in claim 6 and further including a support member extending outwardly from between said side walls and adapted to engage said tube intermediate the ends thereof to support and position said tube.

9. The device set forth in claim 5 and further including a support member extending outwardly from between said side walls and adapted to engage said tube intermediate the ends thereof to support and position said tube.

10. The device set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said driving roller includes a knob member secured on said driving roller exteriorly of said body and in engagement with one of said side walls and biasing said one of said side walls toward the other of said side Walls.

11. The device set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said driving roller tends to prevent rotation of said roller in a non'driving direction to prevent disengagement of said tube from between said driving roller and said driven roller.

12. In combination with a collapsible tube having a material therein, a dispensing device comprising:

a body having an end wall and spaced and parallel side walls extending from said end wall;

a driven roller journalled in said side walls and extending therebetween;

a driving roller extending through said side walls and disposed in parallel and closely spaced relation to said driven roller, said driving roller and said driven roller being adapted to receive one end of a tube therebetween;

and means for rotating said driving roller for moving said tube between said driving roller and said driven roller and collapsing said tube and dispensing said material from the other end thereof, said means engaging said side walls and being operable to maintain said side walls in parallel spaced relation and retain said driven roller therein.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 and further including a cover pivotally mounted in said side walls and covering said driving roller and said driven roller and said tube, said cover having means formed thereon for engaging the collapsed end of said tube upon pivotal movement of said cover to bend said end of said tube into the volume enclosed by said cover.

14. The device set forth in claim 12 wherein said means formed on said cover includes a wall extending inwardly of said cover and having an edge in parallel spaced relation to said driving roller, said wall being movable with said cover about the pivotal point thereof to engage said end of said tube.

15. The device set forth in claim 14 and further including a support member extending outwardly from said end wall and between said side walls and engaging said tube intermediate the ends thereof to support and position said tube relative to said driving roller and said driven roller.

16. The device set forth in claim 12 and further including a support member extending outwardly from said end wall and between said side walls and engaging said tube intermediate the ends thereof to support and position said tube relative to said driving roller and said driven roller.

17. The combination set forth in claim 12 and further including a cap on said tube, said cap having a resilient sleeve extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in expandable and normally closed lips, said lips being adapted to open when said tube is collapsed by said rollers and adapted to close when the pressure on said material by said rollers is released to stop the flow of material from said tube.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17 and further including a cover pivotally mounted in said side walls and covering said driving roller and said driven roller and said tube, said cover having means formed thereon for engaging the collapsed end of said tube upon pivotal movement of said cover to bend said end of said tube into the volume enclosed by said cover.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said means formed on said cover includes a wall extending inwardly of said cover and having an edge in parallel spaced relation to said driving roller, said wall being movable with said cover about the pivotal point thereof to engage said end of said tube.

20. The combination set forth in claim 17 and further including a support member extending outwardly from said end wall and between said side walls and engaging said tube to support and position said tube relative to said rollers.

21. The combination set forth in claim 12 and further including a support member extending outwardly from said end wall and between said side walls and engaging said tube to support and position said tube relative to said ro lers.

22. The combination set forth in claim 21 and further including a cap on said tube, said cap having a resilient sleeve extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in expandable and normally closed lips, said lips being adapted to open when said tube is collapsed by said rollers and adapted to close when the pressure on said material by said rollers is released to stop the flow of material from said tube.

23. The device set forth in claim 12 wherein said m'eans for rotating said driving roller includes a knob member secured on said driving roller exteriorly of said body and in engagement with one of said side walls and biasing said one of said side walls toward the other of said side walls.

24. The device set forth in claim wherein said means for rotating said driving roller tends to prevent rotation of said roller in a non-driving direction to prevent disen gagement of said tube from between said driving roller and said driven roller.

25. In combination with a collapsible tube for dispensing paste material therefrom by applying pressure thereto, a dispensing device comprising:

a body having an end wall and spaced and parallel side walls extending outwardly from said end wall, said end wall being adapted to be secured to a support;

a driven roller journalled in said side walls and extending therebetween;

a driving roller extending through and between said spaced side walls and in parallel and closely spaced relation to said driven roller, said driving roller having a knob mounted on one end thereof for rotation of said driving roller, said knob being positioned to maintain said side walls in parallel spaced relation and retain said driven roller therebetween, and said driving roller and said driven roller being adapted to receive said tube therebetween and cause the paste to be dispensed from said tube upon rotation of said driving roller;

an arm extending from said end wall of said body and in spaced relation to' said driving roller and said driven roller and adapted to engage and support said tube in dispensing position;

a cover pivotally mounted in said side walls and covering said body and said tube when in said closed position, said cover having awall terminating adjacent said driving roller and said driven roller and in parallel spaced relation thereto, said wall being engageable with the empty end of said tube when said cover is pivoted to bend said empty end of said tube toward said end wall and between said side walls;

and a cap receivable on the dispensing end of said tube and having a bor'e extending therethrough, said cap having a resilient sleeve extending from said bore and terminating in a pair of normally closed separable lips, said lips being separated by the material dispensed from said tube when said driving roller is rotated to apply pressure thereto, and said lips closing to cut off flow from said tube when the dispensing pressure is released.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,842,000 10/1930 Winsor 222-102 2,261,310 11/1941 Sullivan 222490 2,569,073 6/ 1949 Robinson 222490 2,678,144 5/1954 Holt 222102 2,717,722 9/1955 Egler 222--102 2,874,876 2/1959 Speese 222102 2,932,431 4/ 1960 Lipton 222102 LOUIS I. DEMBQ, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL FROM A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND COMPRISING: A PAIR OF SPACED SIDE WALLS; A ROLLER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SIDE WALLS; MEANS RECEIVED IN SAID SIDE WALLS AND COACTING WITH SAID ROLLER TO RECEIVE SAID COLLAPSE THEREBETWEEN THE END OF A TUBE; AND MEANS ON SAID ROLLER FOR ROTATING SAID ROLLER AND MOVING SAID TUBE BETEEN SAID ROLLER AND SAID MEANS COACTING THEREWITH TO DISPENSE SAID MATERIAL FROM THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBE, SAID MEANS ENGAGING SAID WALLS AND BEING OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN SAID WALLS IN SUCH RELATION AS TO RETAIN SAID MEANS COACTING WITH SAID ROLLER THEREBETWEEN. 